Darin and Maren had a small, intimate wedding ceremony at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Though their day was small by attendance standards, it was by no means small in terms of emotion, meaning and pure joy. It’s always a treat to photograph people who are just so darn excited to get married! The day started with us arriving to shoot some quick details and Maren getting into her dress. Things quickly started to get real at that point. Once she was in her dress and adorned with jewelry, Maren’s siblings huddled up around her and prayed over her and her new marriage. It was a beautiful thing to witness and it made for some beautiful photos as well. There were lots of good tears. I met Darin in the hallway afterward and he described a similar experience he just had in the basement.
The ceremony was attended by immediate family only, and that made things so easy. Darin got his first look of his bride as her dad walked her down that long church aisle. and I am convinced that moment is easily one of the greatest in any man’s life. Could you possibly be more delighted with that one person that is walking past all others and only to you? It’s a beautiful thing. Once together, they prayed, they vowed, they exchanged rings, they set the unity candle aflame and they kissed for the first time as husband and wife. And now life will never be the same.
It took some work to find a suitable venue for their bride and groom portraits after the wedding since Cedar Rapids parks in particular are still in a state of destruction from August’s derecho. After scouting out several locations, we settled on the Indian Creek Nature Center, and it was perfect. Not only were their trees doing well, but there was still a lot of fall color left! With the derecho and the two October snowfalls we have already had, our peak color season for the foliage came way earlier than usual this year. Iowa weather in the fall is 100% like a box of chocolates.
Following their frigid, yet beautiful portrait experience, they circled back to the church and enjoyed a small dinner with family where they indulged on Need Pizza and different varieties of Kathy’s Pies. We didn’t shoot any of that because we all know that couldn’t have been pretty.
Darin and Maren, we appreciate you guys choosing to have us document your wedding day! We will look forward to being a part of your bigger gathering next spring! We wish you all the best in your married life together!
